Here’s an interesting news item that I came across while reading up on President Obama’s trip to China. Long an established academic powerhouse and home to many of the world’s top institutions of higher learning, is the U.S. still an attractive destination for international students? According to The Wall Street Journal blog The Wealth Report the answer is yes. Their report notes that wealthy Chinese families are sending their children to study at U.S. military schools:
Among wealthy U.S. families, military schools have a reputation for being antiquated forms of punishment. It was where the rich dumped their spoiled, uncontrollable kid when they had run out of other options. But for the new generation of rich Chinese, American military schools are seen as the disciplined training grounds for tomorrow’s economic warriors. An article in China Daily says more and more wealthy Chinese parents are turning away from pamper-parenting and opting for the tough-love of pre-college military academies in the U.S.
I think it’s probably safe to say that when you receive an education in another country, one can’t help but soak up some of the local values and mores. What will they learn at American military schools? While such an education is sure to feature a curriculum heavy on military discipline I wonder if it will also impart a healthy dose of Western liberal values that can be transplanted to China? Perhaps these students will become a new leadership cadre for the modern forward looking China they are building. Let a hundred toy soldiers lead the way.
Photo Credit: WSJ/Valley Forge Military Academy & College
